School Admission Age Calculator
Enter your child's date of birth and your state's cutoff date — see the exact age on the cutoff and which class they are eligible for in 2026-27.
Check Admission Age Eligibility
Under NEP 2020, a child must be 6+ years old for Class 1, which pushes Nursery to 3+, LKG to 4+, and UKG to 5+. The catch: "years old as on which date?" — the cutoff date differs by state (31 March, 1 April, 1 June, or later). Pick your cutoff below and the calculator does the rest.
Child's Details
Result
Class-Wise Age Criteria (NEP 2020 Pattern, 2026-27)
| Class | Minimum Age on Cutoff | Typical Age Band Accepted |
|---|---|---|
| Playgroup / Pre-Nursery | 2.5 years | 2.5 – 3.5 years |
| Nursery | 3 years | 3 – 4 years |
| LKG / KG1 / Jr. KG | 4 years | 4 – 5 years |
| UKG / KG2 / Sr. KG | 5 years | 5 – 6 years |
| Class 1 | 6 years | 6 – 7 years |
| Class 2 | 7 years | 7 – 8 years |
| Class 3 | 8 years | 8 – 9 years |
| Class 4 | 9 years | 9 – 10 years |
| Class 5 | 10 years | 10 – 11 years |
Pattern: minimum age for Class n = n + 5 years. Most states also set an upper limit (usually minimum + 1 year) to keep age bands uniform. Schools may allow a 30-day grace period at their discretion — always confirm in writing during admission.
Why the 6+ Rule for Class 1 Matters Now
The Ministry of Education has directed all states and CBSE-affiliated schools to enforce the NEP 2020 requirement of 6+ years for Class 1 admission. Practical consequences for parents:
- A child born after the cutoff date misses that year's intake even by one day — plan Nursery entry accordingly, since the whole ladder shifts.
- States implemented the change in different years, so a child moving between states can find themselves "young" for the same class — ask the new school about its bridge policy.
- For RTE 25% quota applications, the age recorded on the birth certificate is decisive; discrepancies with Aadhaar can hold up the application.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Per NEP 2020, a child must be at least 6 years old on the state's cutoff date (31 March, 1 April, 1 June, or later depending on the state) for admission to Class 1 in the 2026-27 session.
3 years or older on the cutoff date. With the 6+ rule for Class 1, the ladder is: Nursery 3+, LKG 4+, UKG 5+, Class 1 6+.
Some states and schools allow a grace period of up to 30 days at the principal's discretion, but it is not a right. Ask the school directly and get the decision in writing.
No. Delhi uses 31 March, many CBSE schools and UP use 1 April, Karnataka and Kerala use 1 June, Tamil Nadu 31 July, and Maharashtra 31 December. Always verify with the specific school.
The child must be born on or before 1 April 2020 to be 6+ on 1 April 2026. Enter the exact DOB in the calculator above to check against any cutoff.
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